MPs went home four hours early despite backlog of crucial Brexit laws that need to be passed
MPs left the House of Commons at 3.27pm because uncertainty over how Britain will quit in 50 days means there is just a skeleton programme of debates this week
MPs SAT for just four hours yesterday - despite the backlog Brexit laws needed to pass before exit day in just 50 days.
Politicians sloped off at 3.27pm - more than four hours earlier than usual for a Wednesday.
This is despite a backlog of six draft Brexit laws still needing to pass through Parliament and hundreds of Statutory Instruments - secondary legislation that transfer EU powers back to the UK Government.
Last week the Government cancelled MPs’ week-long February holiday in order to make more time to pass crucial Brexit laws.
And a string of ministers have warned that Brexit Day is likely to have to be pushed back to make more time to pass necessary laws.
But this week the Government has announced just a skeleton programme with uncertainty surrounding the plans for Brexit legislation.
But No10 defended the early finish. The Prime Minister’s spokesman said MPs had been asked to sit beyond midnight on several occasions recently.
Labour’s Diana Johnson said the situation was “bang out of order”, writing on Twitter: “Considering Brexit is just 51 days away this is totally irresponsible!”
SNP chief whip Patrick Gray said: “Seemingly the Tory Government thinks there’s nothing worth debating or discussing.”
Labour MP Verendra Sharma from the anti-Brexit group Best for Britain stormed: “This is not on. Parliament still has tons of legislation to get through before the end of March, including thousands of pages of statutory instruments.
“Brexit is the most important legislative and political process since the Second World War. It makes no sense to go home and avoid working on ensuring the country’s future when there’s so little time left.”
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With 50 days to go, the Government is running out of time to pass the necessary legislation needed to implement Brexit. The PM first needs to win a Commons majority for a deal - in a so-called Meaningful Vote.
Then the Government needs to pass the European Union Withdrawal Agreement Bill that will bring the Brexit deal into law. This needs to pass the Commons and the Lords before exit day - currently March 29.
Several other bills covering agriculture, healthcare, fisheries and trade also need to pass through Parliament.
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